'The West Wing': Canceled After 7 Seasons

[papibear]

NBC Cancels 'West Wing' After 7 Seasons

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

The new president on "The West Wing" will be a real short-timer: NBC announced Sunday it was pulling the plug on the Emmy-winning political drama after seven seasons in May.

NBC, struggling to regain its footing after the worst season in its history, also outlined several midseason schedule changes — including the moves of popular dramas "Law & Order" and "Las Vegas."

"The West Wing" announcement wasn't much of a surprise. Although this season's story line with a presidential campaign involving a Democrat played by Jimmy Smits and Republican portrayed by Alan Alda has been strong critically, ratings have sunk with its move to Sunday nights.

The decision to cancel it was made before actor John Spencer, who played former presidential chief of staff Leo McGarry, died of a heart attack Dec. 16, said Kevin Reilly, NBC entertainment president.

"There's a point when you look at the ratings and say, it feels like it's time," Reilly said.

The series finale will be May 14, preceded by a one-hour retrospective. The campaign to replace the fictional Josiah Bartlet as president will be settled, NBC said.

Producers Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme, who created the show and guided it through its early years, will not be involved in the finale, Reilly said.

"The West Wing" won four Emmy Awards for best television drama in a row for its tales of political intrigue. At its prime, it also offered NBC two valuable benefits: critical acclaim and the most upscale audience on television, an important drawing point for advertisers.

NBC's revamped schedule offered veteran "Law & Order" producer Dick Wolf good and bad news. NBC is putting Wolf's new drama "Conviction," about young prosecutors in New York, on Friday's schedule starting March 3. But it is moving "Law & Order" up an hour to Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET — competing directly with ABC's blockbuster "Lost."

NBC is also moving "Las Vegas" from Monday to Friday starting in March. Donald Trump is changing addresses again, with "The Apprentice" moving to Monday where it will be preceded by the Howie Mandel-hosted game show "Deal or No Deal."

The network has two more midseason shows: "Heist," a cops-and-robbers drama from the director of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," and "Teachers," a comedy about a high school English teacher.

"The Office" will go off the air at the end of March so star Steve Carell can film a movie, Reilly said. He said he also hasn't figured out what to do with the ill-fated "Friends" spinoff "Joey," which has 12 new episodes done but no place on the schedule.

"NBC is stable and our vital signs are encouraging," Reilly said. "Most predictions were that we were going to go from bad to worse this year, and that hasn't happened."

Darn, this is a shame. It would have been interesting to see if "The West Wing" could have become a series like "Law & Order", that goes through a variety of cast changes, while continually telling compelling stories. I liked the new focus on the Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda characters in their run for the White House, and it would have been intriguing to see how it developed, and how the White House would have changed with a new administration, as it does in real life. I guess that won't come to pass now. But, at least, hopefully, there'll be a thorough completion of the story arc involving the Bartlet adminstration.

It was a good show, and had a good run. But hey, we'll always have reruns. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of our lives.

[chiprocks1]

I've yet to watch 1 episode.

[umainebearman]

I thought it was already cancelled. I thought they where just showing re-runs.

[EnriqueH]

Never saw it.

[MooglePorn]

I haven't seen later than season five, and I know people say the show has gone down hill, but I still wish it stuck around just to have some powerful political drama on the tv. I have no desire to see Geena Davis as President.

[Taxi]

Actually, the Geena Davis as President show isn't too bad, but it's no West Wing.

I think that WW has suffered in quality ever since Aaron Sorkin left (or was forced? I can't remember) from the show. (But then I was a big fan of Sports Night, so no surprise there.)

I do feel they went into another election too soon, but they have done a nice job of covering those new stories (basically two new story lines) and keeping an eye on the past, like now with the current Khazikstan (sp?) crisis, and last week's nuclear disaster.

But I miss the tension between Toby and the president. And of course, without Leo the show won't be the same. I would like to see them try to start again with the winner of the election (which is obvious, IMHO). The West Wing II anyone? (But that will likely never happen.)

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by Taxi

I think that WW has suffered in quality ever since Aaron Sorkin left (or was forced? I can't remember) from the show. (But then I was a big fan of Sports Night, so no surprise there.)

Some of the magic was gone in season five, but it was still a great show. It went from a ten to a nine, or a high eight. I've heard season six and seven start messing around with the characters a lot, moving them around and ignoring them... that scares me a bit. I hated that Will dissapeared in season five.